Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann welcomed Sekhon in the AAP fold at a special event held in Zira in Ferozepur district.
Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, a gangster-turned-politician and the main accused in the Nabha jailbreak case, has joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) months before the assembly elections in Punjab.
“Impressed by the pro-people policies of AAP, Gurpreet Singh Sekhon and his supporters have joined the AAP,” the party’s Punjab unit said in an online post, sharing photos of the two leaders from the event.
Political analysts believe that the AAP might field Sekhon as its candidate from the Zira assembly constituency. Read: How Conversions, Casteism Pushed Dalit Voters To A Crossroads In Punjab His entry has also sparked talks and disappointment within the camp of Naresh Katariya, sitting MLA from Zira. Originally from the nearby area of Makhu, Katariya wields considerable influence in this constituency, and if the AAP fields Sekhon from here, the political dynamics could shift dramatically. The Zira Assembly seat has traditionally been a stronghold of the Akali Dal. But the party’s grip on this seat had weakened after the death of Akali leader and former MLA Hari Singh Zira.
Sekhon had notably opened his office here just 10 days ago and is expected to launch his campaign soon.
